10 Worst Movie Sequels Of All Time

Sequels are often the source of major excitement because of the prospect of getting more of an amazing set of characters or an immersive world. However, the same prospect can lead to skepticism, because sequels often have the potential to disappoint viewers by trying to recreate the magic of the original to no avail. The most disappointing movie sequels of the 2010s all have this issue of lacking the depth of the original film, blatantly trying to ride the success of the first movie without being creative or original.

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Even trying to be different can have its drawbacks, as demonstrated by the bad movie sequels that missed the point of the original film. The potential of more entertaining stories in a beloved world with an equally beloved group of characters often puts a lot of pressure on a sequel. This is why so many sequels have failed to live up to the hype surrounding them. However, some sequels are often simply unnecessary as well, making them particularly disappointing if poorly made.

10 Jaws 2 (1978)

Directed By Jeannot Szwarc

jaws 2

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10/10 Jaws 2 PGAdventureHorrorThriller

Released in 1978, Jaws 2 is the sequel to the original named release and the second overall film of the franchise. Written by Carl Gottlieb and Howard Sackler, with direction from Jeannot Szwarc, the film once again sees a Great White shark terrorizing the citizens of Amity Island.

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*Availability in US Release Date June 16, 1978 Runtime 116 Minutes Cast Roy Scheider , Lorraine Gary , Murray Hamilton , Joseph Mascolo , Jeffrey Kramer , Collin Wilcox Paxton , Ann Dusenberry , Mark Gruner Director Jeannot Szwarc Writers Peter Benchley , Carl Gottlieb , Howard Sackler Main Genre Thriller Expand

Jaws 2 is the perfect demonstration of corporate greed hampering artistic creativity in the industry. Despite Spielberg’s insistence that there shouldn’t be a sequel to his film, Universal went ahead with it, and delivered one of the most disappointing sequels of all time. As a monster horror movie, Jaws 2 isn’t terrible, but as a sequel to Jaws, often considered the best horror movie by many, it feels like a dissatisfying and unnecessary film.

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With uncharacteristic lapses in judgment from the recurring characters, a more predictable demographic of victims, and almost no emotional weight, Jaws 2 is a run-of-the-mill nautical slasher that could never live up to the standards set by Jaws, which redefined summer blockbuster movies. Credit where it’s due, the director brought back the same look and feel of the location, but the formulaic screenplay couldn’t be saved even with visual style.

9 Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)

Directed By Russell Mulcahy

Highlander II: The Quickening

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Highlander II: The Quickening RActionAdventureFantasy

Highlander II: The Quickening is a science fiction film directed by Russell Mulcahy, serving as a sequel to the 1986 Highlander. Set in a dystopian future, the film follows Connor MacLeod, played by Christopher Lambert, who must confront an ecological disaster while battling new enemies. Sean Connery reprises his role as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, aiding MacLeod in his quest. The narrative explores themes of immortality, power, and environmental destruction.

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*Availability in US Release Date November 1, 1991 Runtime 91 Minutes Cast Christopher Lambert , Sean Connery , Virginia Madsen , Michael Ironside , Allan Rich , John C. McGinley , Phillip Brock , Rusty Schwimmer Director Russell Mulcahy Writers Peter Bellwood , William N. Panzer , Brian Clemens , Gregory Widen Main Genre Action Expand

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The tagline of Highlander perfectly captures people’s feelings about the movie turning into a franchise – “There can only be one”. A classic fantasy with an infectious soundtrack featuring songs by Queen performed specifically for the film, Highlander is a goofy take on the hero’s journey, perfectly blending farce with darkness. The cinematography especially sets it apart from its contemporaries, as does the inexplicably well-executed balance between silly shenanigans and gritty action adventure. Highlander II: The Quickening, on the other hand, is one of the worst movies ever made.

Even a die-hard sci-fi fan would feel their patience being tested if they attempted to try and understand the incoherent mess that is
Highlander II: The Quickening.

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The Quickening abandons the canon by introducing aliens, and features frustrating creative choices that make it boring and difficult to sit through. Even a die-hard sci-fi fan would feel their patience being tested if they attempted to try and understand the incoherent mess that is Highlander II: The Quickening. Riddled with plot holes, it doesn’t seem to be trying to capture the adorable dorkiness of the original. There are gags that the creative team possibly thought would elicit laughter, but the funniest part of the film is the team’s incompetence.

8 Zoolander 2 (2016)

Directed By Ben Stiller

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4/10 Zoolander 2 mComedy

15 years after Derek Zoolander and Hansel McDonald became allies to take down Mugatu, the pair of fashion models are back. This time, Derek and Hansel discover a sinister conspiracy after traveling to Rome to rejoin the modeling world. Despite Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson returning for the sequel, Zoolander 2 was largely panned upon release in 2016.

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*Availability in US Release Date February 12, 2016 Runtime 102 Minutes Cast Christine Taylor , Owen Wilson , Kristen Wiig , Ariana Grande , Ben Stiller , Fred Armisen , Will Ferrell , Penelope Cruz , Olivia Munn , Billy Zane , Benedict Cumberbatch Director Ben Stiller Writers Nicholas Stoller , John Hamburg , Ben Stiller , Justin Theroux Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Expand

One of the comedy classics of the century, Zoolander made Ben Stiller a household name. The chemistry between him and Owen Wilson as rivals makes for bellyaching, raucous entertainment. It also features one of the best surprise cameos in movie history by David Bowie. The comedic brilliance of Zoolander, however, is that it’s a one-time attempt. The concept only works when disbelief is suspended and viewers commit to the chaotic hilarity that ensues as a result of the main characters’ shenanigans. An attempt to recreate it would be misguided, and Zoolander 2 demonstrates exactly that.

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Zoolander is so immersive with its scathing satire of the fashion industry that one naturally wants more, but the world would have been better off rewatching the classic and quoting it all the time. Zoolander 2 tries doing the same thing as the original again, and it falls flatter than its unfunny bits, which there isn’t a dearth of. With more celebrity cameos than actual jokes, and so few actual critiques of the industry that they can be counted on the fingers, Zoolander 2 fails to live up to the standards set by its predecessor.

7 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

Directed By John Boorman

exorcist

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Exorcist II: The Heretic rHorror

Directed by John Boorman and starring Linda Blair and Richard Burton, Exorcist II: The Heretic is a sequel to the acclaimed 1973 horror film. Four years after the events of the first movie, Father Lamont is tasked with investigating Father Merrin’s strange death while Regan MacNeil deals with the aftermath of her demonic possession in a psychiatric hospital.

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*Availability in US Release Date June 17, 1977 Runtime 118minutes Cast Linda Blair Director John Boorman Writers John Boorman Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand

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The Exorcist is a classic horror movie that continues to scar viewers even today. With a slow burn that patiently dials up the horror quotient to introduce the lore and create a terrifying atmosphere, it’s one of the best supernatural horror films of all time. However, the ingenious use of atmospheric horror is difficult to recreate. It operates best as a standalone horror film. This is possibly what prompted director John Boorman to switch up the storytelling style for Exorcist II: The Heretic. The results are as cursed as Regan from The Exorcist.

The
Exorcist
franchise bounced back in 1990 with
The Exorcist III
, which is widely regarded to be almost as good as the original, both in terms of scares and themes.

The surrealistic approach to the subject matter sets up viewers for disappointment because it’s a sequel to The Exorcist. As a standalone film at the crossroads between sci-fi and horror, it might work as an experimental horror movie, but as a sequel, all it does is leave viewers wondering whether the creative team even watched the original film or understood what it aims to say about Catholicism. Apart from a couple of good set pieces with decent cinematography and Ennio Morricone’s score, Exorcist II: The Heretic doesn’t have any redeeming qualities.

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6 Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)

Directed By Joe Berlinger

Book of Shadows Movie Poster

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Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 RHorrorMysteryThriller Where to Watch

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*Availability in US Release Date October 27, 2000 Runtime 90 minutes Cast Kim Director , Jeffrey Donovan , Erica Leerhsen , Tristine Skyler , Stephen Barker Turner , Kurt Loder Director Joe Berlinger Main Genre Horror

From a business perspective, The Blair Witch Project getting a sequel within a year of release makes sense. The rumors that the found-footage film isn’t fictional, fueled by the ambiguous ending of The Blair Witch Project, added to people’s curiosity, making it one of the most impactful horror movies of all time. So, producers naturally wanted to ride the high and cash in while the buzz around the film still kept moviegoers curious. Book of Shadows is particularly disappointing because it plays with a very interesting concept but fails to fulfill its potential in every way imaginable.

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The idea of capturing people’s reaction to the footage from the first film is imaginative and meta. It acknowledges the film’s impact on viewers and adds a layer of immersion. Unfortunately, Book of Shadowswas intended to be a satire on the potential effects of evocative horror filmmaking, but was eventually edited to make a conventional horror movie. What’s left is a dissatisfying concoction of ’90s tropes, with a weird message about how watching horror movies and listening to death metal can push people toward psychopathy.

5 Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

Directed By Malcolm D. Lee

Space Jam_ A New Legacy

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1.3/10 Space Jam: A New Legacy PGAnimationAdventureAction

In 2021, the cult classic Space Jam finally received a sequel with Space Jam: A New Legacy. This direct sequel was directed by Malcolm D. Lee and features a cast of Looney Tunes characters and NBA superstar LeBron James. This release sees a rogue A.I. that captures and forces the Basketball icon to create a team to compete against its own.

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*Availability in US Release Date July 16, 2021 Runtime 115 Minutes Cast Eric Bauza , Don Cheadle , Jeff Bergman , Gabriel Iglesias , Sonequa Martin-Green , LeBron James , Cedric Joe , Bob Bergen Director Malcolm D. Lee Writers Tony Rettenmaier , Juel Taylor , Terence Nance , Keenan Coogler Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Expand

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Space Jam is one of the weirdest films in existence. The very idea of the Looney Toons having to face-off against aliens in a game of basketball to save themselves, and kidnapping Michael Jordan to help them win that game, is absurd. But, because of Michael Jordan’s charming screen presence, buoyed by his brilliant persona as one of the all-time greats in the sport, and the wacky silliness of the Looney Toons, the film somehow works. The same cannot be said of Space Jam: A New Legacy, which, in one word, is unnecessary.

25 years after Jordan’s biggest brand advertisement as a basketball player, LeBron James’ team decided he should attempt to do the same. Space Jam: A New Legacy is literally that – a glorified advertisement, but a poorly conceived one. With unnecessarily many references to WB projects that are introduced and recontextualized for no apparent reason except to remind people of their existence, the film is a complete mess without anything real to say. James is charismatic and may be able to save the cartoons, but he can’t save this mess of bizarre callbacks and poor characterization of the Looney Toons.

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4 Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)

Directed By Jan de Bont

Speed 2- Cruise Control - poster

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Speed 2: Cruise Control PG-13ActionAdventureThriller

Speed 2: Cruise Control follows a thrilling ordeal aboard a hijacked cruise liner, where vacationing cop Alex Shaw and his partner Annie Porter face a desperate race against time. Lacking communication, they must thwart the plans of a rogue saboteur to save the passengers and prevent an environmental catastrophe.

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*Availability in US Release Date June 13, 1997 Runtime 125 Minutes Cast Sandra Bullock , Jason Patric , Willem Dafoe , Temuera Morrison , Brian McCardie , Glenn Plummer , Colleen Camp , Lois Chiles , Mike Hagerty , Bo Svenson , Francis Guinan , Jeremy Hotz , Royale Watkins , Christine Firkins , Tamia , Kimmy Robertson , Patrika Darbo , Connie Ray , Susan Barnes , Charles Parks , Enrique Murciano , Jessica Diz , Alex Montesino , Mark Adair-Rios , Xavier Coronel , Tyler Patton , Craig A. Pinckes Director Jan de bont Writers Graham Yost , Jan de bont , Randall McCormick , Jeff Nathanson Main Genre Thriller Expand

Be it Neo in The Matrix or the titular character of John Wick, Keanu Reeves is known for playing characters who help reshape genre expectations. So, it’s no surprise that his SWAT agent character from Speed is a soft-spoken, polite character as opposed to the abrasive heroes of the time. It helped create the unforgettable chemistry with Sandra Bullock that makes the romantic vibes of the action thriller feel genuine and necessary. Speed 2‘s Jason Patric, however, doesn’t share the same kind of chemistry with Bullock, making the romantic arc feel forced.

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Willem Dafoe has played some memorable antagonistic characters over the years, so his villain in Speed 2: Cruise Control shouldn’t be as uncharismatic and bland as he is. The practical stunts and the explosive climax also should have made the film more entertaining than it is. The lack of quality that Speed 2 brings to the franchise doesn’t make sense on paper, but it’s one of the most dissatisfying sequels in movie history. The only explanation is the bizarre choice to switch from the breakneck pace of Speed to make a slow burn.

3 American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)

Directed By Morgan J. Freeman

American Psycho 2 (2002)

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American Psycho 2 RHorrorThriller

American Psycho 2 is a 2002 psychological thriller that follows Rachael Newman, a criminology student who becomes obsessed with her professor and eliminates anyone standing in her way. Mila Kunis stars as Rachael, with William Shatner playing her professor, Robert Starkman. Directed by Morgan J. Freeman, the film serves as a standalone sequel to American Psycho, shifting its focus from Wall Street to academia.

Release Date June 18, 2002 Runtime 88 Minutes Cast Mila Kunis , William Shatner , Geraint Wyn Davies , Robin Dunne , Lindy Booth , Charles Officer , Michael Kremko Director Morgan J. Freeman Writers Alex Sanger , Karen Craig Studio(s) Lions Gate Films Distributor(s) Lions Gate Home Entertainment Main Genre Thriller Expand

American Psycho, a witty and biting satire on the world of Wall Street, has a scene where the protagonist attempts to feed a stray cat to a cash machine. American Psycho II: All American Girl has a scene where the main character microwaves a cat. The disproportionate difference in quality between the original film and its sequel is perfectly conveyed by the difference in these two scenes. Despite featuring William Shatner and Mila Kunis, All American Girl has no redeeming qualities, especially as a sequel to one of the most influential films of the 2000s.

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Not only does it fail to live up to the standards of the original film and contains no satirical commentary on the competitiveness of academia, All American Girl insults American Psycho by showing Patrick Bateman being inexplicably killed early-on in the film. There’s no real connection between the two films, except the forced allusions in All American Girl to the original. American Psycho II: All American Girl is boring, doesn’t provide much explanation for the protagonist’s psychosis, and has nothing meaningful to say.

2 Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Directed By Melanie Mayron

0469397_poster_w780.jpg

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Mean Girls 2 PG-13Comedy

Mean Girls 2: Released in 2011, Mean Girls 2 follows Jo, a confident senior, as she navigates North Shore High School. Breaking her own rules, Jo becomes involved in school dynamics by standing up for Abby against the dominant clique led by Mandi, sparking a tumultuous conflict among the students.

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*Availability in US Release Date January 23, 2011 Runtime 96 minutes Cast Jennifer Stone , Meaghan Jette Martin , Maiara Walsh , Nicole Gale Anderson , Claire Holt , Diego Boneta , Bethany Anne Lind , Patrick Johnson , Colin Dennard , Amber Brooke , Juliet Kim , Willie Larson , Linden Ashby , Tim Meadows , Donn Lamkin , Rhoda Griffis , Dan Coleman , Mike Pniewski , Greg Perrow , Kimberly Banta , Rachel Filsoof , Katelyn E. Bulluck , Kelly Gilmore , Autumn Dial Director Melanie Mayron Writers Cliff Ruby , Elana Lesser Expand
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The first Mean Girls movie, which remains the definitive teen comedy of the 21st Century, has left an indelible mark on pop culture, and continues to be referenced via memes, quotes, and GIFs, two decades after its initial release. Its satire of high school life, brought to life through Tina Fey’s witty screenplay, makes it feel sincere instead of preachy. However, the sequel, Mean Girls 2, feels like a cheap knockoff Regina George would love to make fun of.

As a direct-to-TV sequel, Mean Girls 2 didn’t have the same kind of resources that the original did, but that still doesn’t excuse the bland characterization of the one-dimensional clichéd characters. One of the most entertaining aspects of Mean Girls is the use of parody to design characters who represent archetypes but have enough layers to them to feel like real people. In comparison, Mean Girls 2 couldn’t be less original if it tried. It feels like a desperate attempt to capture the refreshing authenticity of the original, but without the freshness or creativity that makes Mean Girls a classic.

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1 Son of the Mask (2005)

Directed By Lawrence Guterman

Son of the Mask - Poster

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Son of the Mask PGAdventureComedyFamilyFantasy

Son of the Mask is a 2005 fantasy comedy film featuring Tim Avery, an aspiring cartoonist who discovers the chaos of parenting when his dog uncovers the magical mask of Loki. The situation escalates as Avery’s newborn child inherits the mask’s transformative powers, leading to unpredictable adventures.

Release Date February 18, 2005 Runtime 94 minutes Cast Jamie Kennedy , Alan Cumming , Traylor Howard , Kal Penn , Steven Wright , Ben Stein , Peter Callan , Liam Falconer , Ryan Falconer , Brett Pickup , Ashley Lyons , Wayne McDaniel , Sandy Winton , Rebecca Massey , Issac Longmuir , Tayzin Fahey-Leigh , Skyla Laginha , Lochie Nazer Hennings , Andie Rogers , Trilby Glover , Josephine Chu , Solomon Freer , Ethan Coker Director Lawrence Guterman Writers Lance Khazei Main Genre Adventure Expand

The Mask is one of the most iconic films of all time and earned Jim Carrey the fame he has today as one of the greatest comedic actors ever. His hilariously chaotic antics make The Mask one of Jim Carrey’s most iconic characters. The Mask is obviously a product of the ’90s and every aspect may not hold up as well today, but it’s still entertaining. Lawrence Guterman to recreate its magic in 2005, is hilariously bad though. No one asked for Son of the Mask, and without Jim Carrey, there’s practically nothing to like about the movie.

It makes viewers further appreciate just how good Jim Carrey is!

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The questionable CGI choices in Son of the Mask make for truly horrifying visual effects that are supposed to be funny but can unintentionally scare viewers into turning the movie off before it’s over. The poor acting, no doubt a product of bad writing and direction, makes it difficult to care about the characters, whose emotional arcs are so poorly traced that they don’t feel like characters but poorly fleshed-out caricatures. The only good thing about Son of the Mask is that it makes viewers further appreciate just how good Jim Carrey is!